Local News

It was a long and tiring road to Nov. 2, but Dennis Powers has no regrets.

Despite enduring an initially close race for the 36th District House of Representative seat and a barrage of personal attacks from his opponent, Powers said he is looking forward to doing business for the people of Tennessee.

Although Powers is no stranger to politic, he said the country’s current political climate made for good timing for his most recent run.

It has been just under a month since Dr. Michael Martin and Karen Bundren left the Campbell County school system under a cloud of suspicion that has resulted in the discovery of forged transcripts and a TBI investigation.

And in the wake of this bombshell Sharon Ridenour, former career and technical education supervisor, has been charged by the board with the daunting task of redirecting the focus of system employees and the community from the seemingly growing scandal to making a plan for continuing to improve education for the county’s students.

Next Thursday flags will fly and guns will salute those who have devoted their lives to this country’s service.

And while veterans will be honored nationwide on this day, Campbell County has its own plans for recognizing the defenders of freedom.

On Nov. 7 the Church of God Mountain Assembly will host a military service complete with presentation of colors, recognition of veterans, MIA/POW presentation and 21- gun salute. The service is set to begin at 10:45 a.m.

With over 9,000 of the county’s registered voters casting ballots on Tuesday election officials are pleased with the turn out for the mid term election.

“We had 3,879 voters cast early ballots,” said Dean Sexton, administrator of elections.

That translated into around 43- percent of votes being registered early. “Typically early voting sees around 55-perecnt of the voters. But in the race, the majority of people went to the polls,” she said.

With all of Union County reporting and 20 of 21 precincts reporting Dennis Powers has defeated Keith Clotfelter in the 36th District Tennessee House of Representatives race. In Campbell County Powers claimed 4,505 with Clotfelter garnering 3,582. The Union County totals reflect Clotfelter getting 1,051 and Powers 2,309.

With all of the LaFollette votes counted Joe Bolinger and Stephanie Grimm are the newly elected council members.

Bolinger posted 591 votes while Grimm took 759 votes. Wayne Gregg came in third with 526. Jay Huddleston received 284 with Scott Kitts rounding out the pack with 261. Total votes cast in the race was 2,421.

According to election commission totals 3,879 Campbell County voters turned out for early voting in this mid-term election.

Based on early voting totals Dennis Powers is leading Keith Clotfelter in the 36th District House of Representatives race 2,059 to 1,551.

Voters in Caryville are split their votes nearly down the middle on the liquor referendum. Yes votes for liquor by the drink are 159 to 129 no votes after early voting. On the issue of package stores those in favor hold a narrow lead over the opposition with 152 voting yes to 139 no votes.